Christus Victor: Christ the Victorious

This is an edited version of a sermon preached on Ascension Sunday, at the Montesano Church of God.

This is the time in the church year when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension. We’ve walked with Jesus toward the cross, as he is executed by Rome for posing a threat to the empire. We have stood with the women at an empty tomb and rejoiced at the resurrection. Now, we are transitioning from Easter to the time of the church. The disciples are transitioning from a time when they have had Jesus physically present with them to a time when Jesus is leaving them—and leaving them with a mission.

When we read the story of the ascension, what strikes me most unmistakably, is the power of God that is revealed in Jesus. We have seen Jesus live among his people in the tiny two bit towns of Galilee—born in a barn (literally, folks), poor, hungry, without a place to lay his head. We have seen Jesus arrested, imprisoned, executed when the religious leaders and Roman governor see him as a threat—the crucified God, as my favorite theologian says.

Now we see Jesus fully reveal the power of God. Now we see the risen, victorious Christ ascend to stand at the right hand of God. Jesus who tramples his enemies, who tramples death itself, who laughs in the face of his enemies. Who, in the words of Colossians, “disarmed the rules and the authorities and put them to open shame.” Jesus won. The empire, those who opposed him, the powers of this world—LOST.

What Jesus’ Power is Not

You know, there was a time that I was uneasy with talking about a powerful God. For several reasons: Sometimes preachers talk about God’s power as if its all about wrath and judgment—that God’s gonna get you if you don’t believe just the right thing or do everything right.

There is another reason. I visited this chapel in England, one of the oldest in the country. In that chapel, there is a huge stained glass image of Jesus with a crown on his head and a sword in his hand. The Jesus of empire. The Jesus of Constantine. Jesus standing at the head of armies and empires. We know, from Jesus’ own words that this is not the kingdom of God.

Why We Need a Powerful Jesus

Then, I thought about where the term Christus Victor really comes from. The concept first showed up in the art of Roman Christians in their burial sites in the catacombs. It would be inscribed on the tombs of people who had died unjust deaths, inscribed with palm branches as a symbol of victory. Because these men and women—many of them slaves, poor persecuted and oppressed—believed in a powerful, victorious God revealed to them in Jesus. It was an act of defiance—that Jesus was stronger than the empire that oppressed them.

But Jesus is not on the side of empire. I had a conversation with a man the other day. He’s been homeless for awhile—working, but unable to afford housing. We had a conversation about how difficult it has been for him to find a place to stay. Finally, he sighed and said; ”Well, at least Jesus is on my side.”

How God’s Power is Revealed

So, Jesus is revealed to us as King of kings and Lord of lords. More powerful than the Roman governor—more powerful than the Roman Caesar, than the high priest in Jerusalem. How amazing, how revolutionary this must have been for the poor fishermen and tax collectors and women who followed Jesus.

Remember what Jesus said as he was leaving his disciples in Acts? “You will receive power.” I am with you. My power is your power.

When we face hardship and difficulty, Jesus is on our side. When we face death and loss, Jesus is on our side. When we face poverty—because some of us have done that too—when we lose everything, Jesus is on our side. And Jesus is powerful. More powerful than empires. More powerful than the forces of evil in this world.

And Jesus’ call—our mission—is to be witnesses of that promise.

It is my call too and it is my particular call to witness to this promise of the streets of the harbor. The statistics are grim here—a 25% poverty rate. A teen outreach organization is putting together data from the school districts and they have counted 800 children homeless on the harbor. There are probably about 400 people actually living on the street—though the final numbers are not in yet.

We, here on the harbor, and everywhere else for that matter, need a resurrected and ascended Savior. We need the one who defeated the powers of death and promised us “I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Sometimes abundant life is hard to come by—especially on the street. We need hope of victory. And the God who set the children of Israel free in the desert, the God who was raised from the dead is on our side!

Because Jesus ascended and sits and the right hand of God a new kingdom is ours.

 

Because Jesus ascended and sits at the right hand of God...

We will rise again—not just individually, not just in the hereafter. But here and now, in our communities too. Abundant resurrection life is ours NOW, given to us by the power of a resurrected Savior.